Cayetano: Enough funds for Covid vaccine included in 2021 budget
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano assured that the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 will have enough funding for the purchase of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.
Cayetano asked the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to provide the House of Representatives with sufficient information necessary in estimating the needed vaccine fund.
“To the IATF, we (Congress) are here to support you, but help us come up with a budget na akma talaga. I'm a little bit concerned — and nandito ang DOH so maipaparating kay (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque -- kasi nakita ko sa news, $1.2 billion ang hinahanda ng Australia para sa vaccine,” said Cayetano in a meeting with the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (C.O.D.E.) Team.
(To the IATF, we [Congress] are here to support you, but help us come up with a budget that is truly appropriate. I’m a little bit concerned — and DOH representatives are here so they can give the message to Health Secretary Francisco Duque — because I saw in the news that Australia is preparing $1.2 billion for the purchase of vaccines.)
Cayetano also said the House will work closely with the Senate and Cabinet Secretaries to design a national budget that will also cover assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let’s not give false hope to those who have lost their jobs. Let's put in programs that will really give hope. May mga alternative namang pangkabuhayan (There are alternative livelihoods),” he added.
The House hopes to approve the P4.5 trillion budget this month. Deliberations started last week.
Cayetano aims to have the budget signed by President Duterte in late November or early December.
Cayetano asked the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to provide the House of Representatives with sufficient information necessary in estimating the needed vaccine fund.
“To the IATF, we (Congress) are here to support you, but help us come up with a budget na akma talaga. I'm a little bit concerned — and nandito ang DOH so maipaparating kay (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque -- kasi nakita ko sa news, $1.2 billion ang hinahanda ng Australia para sa vaccine,” said Cayetano in a meeting with the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (C.O.D.E.) Team.
(To the IATF, we [Congress] are here to support you, but help us come up with a budget that is truly appropriate. I’m a little bit concerned — and DOH representatives are here so they can give the message to Health Secretary Francisco Duque — because I saw in the news that Australia is preparing $1.2 billion for the purchase of vaccines.)
Cayetano also said the House will work closely with the Senate and Cabinet Secretaries to design a national budget that will also cover assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let’s not give false hope to those who have lost their jobs. Let's put in programs that will really give hope. May mga alternative namang pangkabuhayan (There are alternative livelihoods),” he added.
The House hopes to approve the P4.5 trillion budget this month. Deliberations started last week.
Cayetano aims to have the budget signed by President Duterte in late November or early December.
